"I..."
"It's just something you should think about. Your other classes are going to be hard, but not as bad as this one. You can think about it. But you have to give a speech on Friday if you choose to stay. I can't treat you any differently than the other students, regardless of the circumstances. So if you decide to drop this class, just email me."
"Okay." James was trying to make all the decisions. I needed to talk to him. I didn't want to go to my next class.
"If you decide to stay, I'll do my best to get the other students to stop harassing you. I'd recommend not coming to class early, though."
"Okay," I said again.
"Well, you better get to your next class. Good luck, Penny."
"Thanks." I allowed myself to exhale as I walked toward the door. Class was horrible. But Tyler had stood up for me. And Professor Nolan was nice and understanding. I didn't even have to redo my speeches.
As I walked through the hallway I could hear the whispers. I could feel the stares. I kept my eyes on the ground.
Someone grabbed my arm. I looked up at Professor Hunter. He pulled me into a custodial closet. When the door closed the whole room was pitch-black.
"Are you okay?" Professor Hunter's soothing voice made me burst out in tears.
"Penny?" his voice was laced in concern. He pulled my face against his chest and ran his fingers through my hair. "I don't like seeing you cry. Tell me what you need."
I didn't respond to him. I just continued to cry.
"Penny, please talk to me," he said gently.
"I told you I'd give up everything for you," I sobbed. "I said I didn't care about finishing school here. I said we could run away together. I'll do whatever you want. Please don't do this."
He put his hands on my shoulders. "Do what? What are you talking about?"
"Please. I can't lose you. I know what living is like when we aren't together. I don't want to feel that way again. I can't feel that way again." I took a deep breath of his heavenly scent.
"You're not losing me. Hey." He grabbed my chin and tilted my head up so that he could see my eyes. "I love you. Where is this coming from?"
"You're not breaking up with me?"
"No." He laughed. It felt like ages since I had heard him laugh. "Penny, no."
"Well don't say things like we need to talk then," I said through my tears. "When people say that, it means they want to break up."
"You really do watch too much T.V." He wiped my tears away with his thumbs. "Please stop crying."
I felt relieved. But I was still mad at him. "We're supposed to be a team."
"We are a team."
"No, we're not." I leaned back to look at him. "You made the decision to quit without even discussing it with me first."
"I listened to what Joe had to say. There wasn't even a decision that needed to be made. There was only one option."
"But you had already decided. You had a resignation letter with you."
"I like to be prepared..."
"You knew what you were going to do. You knew and you didn't tell me. I felt blindsided in there."
"I told you to let me go alone. I asked you to let me handle it. And it was my choice to make. Not yours."
"What? It was a decision that affects both of us. Why do you want to do everything alone? I gave up everything to be with you. Stop pushing me away." I swallowed hard. Isabella's words came back to me. He wanted what he couldn't have. And he definitely had me now. The small closet was making me feel claustrophobic. I tried to shake the thought away but it just made me cry even more.
